Right foot video

[frank0072]

Hi everybody. This is my first serious thread in the Technique forum. I have read a lot of discussion about what's better; heel down or heel up and I don't want to start that over again. What I would like is that you could take a look at my technique, I play heel down and I have been playing for one year now. I was wondering if you could tell me how I can improve.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAJKJo7ZocE

Thank you :-)!

[Vinnysimmo]

Looks fine to me. But i think you look a bit tense. Try to breath deeply and relax while playing. Other than that. No problems whatsoever!

[Paul Quin]

Frank0072:

well done for posting the type of question for which this forum is best suited - and for risking some of the negative comments which might come winging your way. My thoughts are these:

The heel up/heel down debate is a well worn one and you shouldn't concern yourself with it. My thoughts are that both techniques should be in your arsenal as there are specific times when each is useful. As a general rule, however, I tend to play with my heel up. Both techniques, however, require that the ball of your foot stay in contact with the footboard of the pedal at all times. It is only through doing this that you can make the pedal an extension of your musical self. It appears from this video (although it is unclear) that, at times, your foot leaves the pedal. The same applies to the hi-hat, of course, and you can see your left foot losing contact with the pedal.

You may want to adjust the tension of your pedal but I suspect that you just need to get a better "feel" for the pedal and, like everything, that involves slow practise. Try to walk before you can run. Make sure that each BD beat is at the volume/level that you want. Variety in dynamics is important but only if it is a musical desire not a limit in physical ability. PLay only 8th notes on your BD until you can achieve this consistently - with your foot never leaving the footboard. Once you can do this then move to adding those 16th notes on the BD. Play it slowly and you will develop the control you seek.

Hope this is helpful.

Paul

[frank0072]

Thanks for your comments :). To play 8th notes consistent with my right foot I have to play heel up, but my upperleg can't hold that stable for more than 10 seconds, so I have to figure something out to do that if I want to do those fast grooves in the future...

please keep the comments coming :)

[samthebeat]

You need to tighten that foot somewhat. Playing heel up is an essential technique to learn imo. Stronger and more solid. Learning some sort of double technique is very usfull too, heel toe, or the slide or the swivel, experiment, there is no set in stone bass technique as far I am concerend.

Then Just work your foot playing bass drum demanding beats, all the eights accept 2 and 4 is good, various sixteenth note patterns. Playing double what the hi hat is very good, and also playing with your toghter with left hand helps in some way to.

[frank0072]

thanks for your comment. What do you mean by 'tighten the foot'? Train it for more strength?
And what metronome speed do you recommend to start with when starting to learn Heel Up? (I have just got a metronome so I want to use it a lot)

Btw, my video isn't about groove or playing in time, at the end I speed up just to demonstrate how my foot works when playing faster.

[aydee]

Hi everybody. This is my first serious thread in the Technique forum. I have read a lot of discussion about what's better; heel down or heel up and I don't want to start that over again. What I would like is that you could take a look at my technique, I play heel down and I have been playing for one year now. I was wondering if you could tell me how I can improve.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAJKJo7ZocE

Thank you :-)!

tthats pretty much steve smith's technique with the heel down ( He plays it both up and down ).. it might help to slide your foot backwards, just a little bit to get a faster rebound off the head, and the strokes will get smoother

[samthebeat]

What i meant by tighten, was to play more in time, i atchually ment to write "tighten up". I know you said your video is not about groove or anything, but it dont mean a thing if it aint in time dude. So when you practice heel up, practice it a speed you can it consistantly.

[a1DrummerT]

Hi everybody. This is my first serious thread in the Technique forum. I have read a lot of discussion about what's better; heel down or heel up and I don't want to start that over again. What I would like is that you could take a look at my technique, I play heel down and I have been playing for one year now. I was wondering if you could tell me how I can improve.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAJKJo7ZocE

Thank you :-)!

when your first starting out i would say keep it heel down and build some power in your foot. You'll find that as you progress you will naturally lift your heel when playing faster.
at least this happened for me. and later on you'll learn about the slide technique, but dont worry about that now...just starting you it can but frustrating reading about all this to learn.

just remember that you have to start one step at a time.
just stick heel down as is for now but do these exercises:




BD|x------xx-------|x------xx-------|
HF|----x-------x---|----x-------x---|

and

BD|x----xx---------|x----xx---------|
HF|----x-------x---|----x-------x---|

BD is bass drum and HF is hi hat foot

[mstickle]

I had the same type of problem for years. I found that a lot of teachers focus on hand technique, but not much on the foot. I had problems with speed, coordination, and cramping at gigs (very bad).

I found a video that helped me achieve singles at 200 bpm, fast doubles, and overall comfort with the kit. The DVD is “Bass Drum Techniques for Todays Drummer – Unburying the Beater” with Matt Ritter. It can be found at www.mattrittermusic.com.

I found this useful because it not only focused on technique, but actually helped me design my drum set layout and seating placement. If you are into double pedal stuff then this is probably not for you.

Good Luck!

[MattRitter]

I had the same type of problem for years. I found that a lot of teachers focus on hand technique, but not much on the foot. I had problems with speed, coordination, and cramping at gigs (very bad).

I found a video that helped me achieve singles at 200 bpm, fast doubles, and overall comfort with the kit. The DVD is “Bass Drum Techniques for Todays Drummer – Unburying the Beater” with Matt Ritter. It can be found at www.mattrittermusic.com.

I found this useful because it not only focused on technique, but actually helped me design my drum set layout and seating placement. If you are into double pedal stuff then this is probably not for you.

Good Luck!

Hey, Mstickle

Thanks so much for mentioning my video! I'm really glad to hear that you found it helpful.

As for the double bass side of things, have no fear! The movements that I demonstrate in my video work equally well with one foot or two. For anyone interested in double bass, I recommend the following strategy:

a) Take the movements laid out in my video and practice them with each foot individually. If you already own my video and have gotten pretty good at doing the movements with one foot, you will find that learning them with your other foot goes much more quickly. That's what I discovered in my own practicing.

b) Keep an eye on Modern Drummer magazine. I wrote an upcoming article for them with details on how to take my approach and apply it to common double bass drum figures. Hopefully, the article will run soon. I have no idea which issue it will be in.

Thanks again, Mstickle, for the mention.

Best of luck, everyone!

Matt Ritter
Bass Drum Techniques For Today's Drummer
www.UnBuryingTheBeater.com

[Jeff Almeyda]

Someone mentions a good video and the author of that vid is also on the forum.

That's why this place can be pretty cool sometimes. :)